The backlog of bankruptcy cases in Florida could take years to return to normal levels, but bankruptcy filings in the Tampa Bay area continue to fall from their peak in 2010. Since that time, bankruptcies have fallen approximately 20 percent in the last 12 months....
Year: 2012
Avoiding consumer debt during the holiday season
The holiday shopping season officially starts this week when doors open on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. For many Florida residents, the excitement of the deals and the long holiday gift list can cause normally thrifty people to throw caution to the wind....
Bank settlement provides mortgage relief to Florida borrowers
A recent settlement between the government and five of the largest banks in the country will provide millions of dollars' worth of relief to Florida borrowers. The settlement will affect borrowers who lost their homes in a foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and...
Consumers with high credit scores have a lot in common
Many Florida residents know that consumer credit card debt is one of the first things to pile up during tough financial times. At the time when a job is lost or a medical bill arrives in the mail, consumer debt is the easiest thing to put on the backburner while...
Florida couple wins foreclosure appeal
A Florida couple has a new chance to keep their home after an appeals court judge overturned a ruling that allowed their lender to repossess their home. Repossession happens as a part of the foreclosure process after borrowers have defaulted on their mortgage. While...
Borrowers should use caution with online loan deals
Many in Florida know that the credit markets are fairly tight right now, and that borrowers with less than great credit are having a harder time securing loans for things like a small business or a new car. For many, this can be circumvented by getting a cosigner who...
Florida judge says no means test for chapter 7 case
One of the confusing parts of filing for bankruptcy is figuring out which chapter to file under. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 both offer different advantages and disadvantages, and someone seeking to file must meet certain criteria. For Chapter 7 one of those criteria is...
Florida bankruptcy update: they’re up as well as down
Followers of our Florida blog posts are well aware of the fact that our state has been one of the hardest hit by home foreclosures as well as bankruptcies. People have lost their jobs as well as their homes. Although bankruptcy gives people a financial fresh start, it...
Indie musician threatened by bankruptcy
Making ends meet in a time of prolonged economic uncertainty has become more difficult for Americans from all walks of life. From those below the poverty line to once-millionaire sports and entertainment stars, money troubles can take hold unexpectedly, often times...
Student loan cosigners face financial struggles during bankruptcy
The student debt crisis has been in the news a lot lately, both in Florida and around the country. Student debt is at a record high, as we discussed in a previous post, and that means it is getting harder for people who hold student loans to meet all of their various...